“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.’” Exodus 14:13 NIV
Is there a sin in your life that you just can’t seem to get rid of? It keeps recurring as if you have never dealt with it before. Could it be that you don’t want to be free from it? As R. C. Sproul use to say, “We sin because it’s pleasurable.” But deep down it our souls, if we are honest with ourselves and truly love God, we know that God hates sin and it is not exactly pleasurable with Him. So we need to get rid of it and the sooner the better.
The children of Israel were in slavery for four hundred years by the Egyptians. They were forced to comply with all the demands made on them. Physical hard work to the point of torture in satisfying their task masters was the bulk of the demands. Israel longed to be freed from the never ending struggle of the helplessness they felt in being enslaved by the Egyptians. The Lord did not forget about His children in Egypt and miraculously delivered them as recorded in the Old Testament book of Exodus. As they were on their way to the Promised Land, once again they were being pursued by the subjects of their past struggles, the Egyptians have returned.
Similar to Israel being chased by their slave masters and now backed into a corner, or the Red Sea as we know it, Christians at times find themselves in the same place. Recurring sin is as if we never left the bondage of sin we were in before coming to know the Lord. The truth is, we have a sin nature and will continue to sin until we have our glorified bodies in eternity. But to allow the recurring sin to have its hold on us by not letting go completely is giving the green light for all kinds of temptation to creep in and take us captive once again. Give it to the Lord and He will make a path for you and see you through to the other side with your sins buried in the deepest sea. It’s time to get rid of it.
“Jerusalem, once so full of people, is now deserted. She who was once great among the nations now sits alone like a widow. Once the queen of all the earth, she is now a slave.” Lamentations 1:1 NLT
Repeated warnings that are not observed will end in disaster. In fact, failure to obey any warning could result in some type of misfortune. However, failing to heed multiple warnings you’re heard many times will lead you down a path in which there is no return. If you are able to return, life may never be the same. That is why we have warning signs and guardrails in life to keep us safe by obeying those‘ danger ahead’ signs.
The Bible is not just a rule book with an endless list of do’s and don’ts. It is God’s Word communicated to us. Within its pages are examples on how to live and how not to live; what pleases God and what displeases Him, the punishment for sin and the forgiveness of sin, the repentant sinner and the unrepentant sinner. The Bible may also be referred to as God’s love story to us. His wonderful plan of salvation for all who believe in Christ is what His story is all about, but the Bible also gives it to us straight concerning our unrepentant sin ignoring His warning signs and going our own way.
The people of Judah found out the hard way what happens when you ignore repeated warnings from the Lord. Over the centuries warnings were issued to the Jewish people, some in which the people repented but they always went back to their old ways. A point was reached in their continual sin that no words of warnings from prophets the Lord sent were ever acknowledged. They reached a point of no return. The Lord had the city of Jerusalem destroyed and the people taken captive to Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah witnessed all this in real time and lamented over their sin and the destruction of Jerusalem.
The Lord is gracious and full of mercy. He will give us warning signs on what to avoid in this life and how we should live. The Lord gives plenty of opportunities to repent and turn back to Him, but there will a point where continual defiance and being disobedient will result in severe consequences and sorrow of unrepented sin to bring us back to Him. When you begin to see repeated warning signs, it’s time to pay attention before you go over the cliff.
When you think about God, what comes to mind? How about His awesome power in creating the earth and the entire universe. Maybe you are drawn to His awareness of every occurrence in the world at the same time, or perhaps it is the comfort you receive knowing that God hears your prayers when millions of people are also in prayer with Him. Words cannot do justice in describing God. Our best attempts in characterizing God will fail. He is so awesome, powerful, holy, loving, all-knowing, the list goes on……….and on………and on. There are not enough words, so I guess we will leave at that.
Have you ever thought of God’s emotions? Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (nlt) We know that we are emotional beings, some more than others. If we are made in God’s image, it stands to reason that God is an emotional God. If we can display emotion, God certainly can.
Have you ever been hurt by someone? Had your heart broken? Have you caused the hurt of someone and broken their heart? If your answer is yes to either circumstance, you know both how it feels when you were hurt and the effects your actions had on the one you hurt. Now comes the hard part. Have you ever hurt God? Our emotional God can also be hurt by our actions.
The Lord speaking through Ezekiel, concerning Judah, said, “Then when they are exiled among the nations, they will remember me. They will recognize how hurt I am by their unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes that long for their idols. Then at last they will hate themselves for all their detestable sins.” (Ez.6:9 nlt) The Lord God was sending them into exile for 70 years for their sins against Him, sins that hurt Him deeply by turning to idols.
How many idols do we have in our own lives that are hurting God? We may have never thought about this quite this way before, but our sins against God do hurt Him. Our unfaithful hearts and lustful eyes towards our idols take us away from Him, and yes, He’s hurt. May we have faithful hearts, and our eyes gazed on Him.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT
The subject of transparency is a well-recognized topic particularly in the world of politics. The truth of the matter is, many who claim to be transparent usually turn out to be not so transparent. Transparency defines as, ‘the quality of being done in an open way without secrets’ is far from what the general public observes. Perhaps there are good intentions on the campaign trail to present oneself as transparent, but the thought of exposing compromising positions or a deficiency while in office is considered a matter to be kept close to the vest.
Politicians are not alone in abusing transparency. Every one of us have a problem with being transparent, totally transparent. Many of us have fine admirable qualities such as honesty, sympathy, a non-judgmental character, caring for others, selflessness, and a loving attitude. While those qualities may be seen most of the time, there are circumstances when one or two of our admirable qualities are overshadowed by something we try to cover up-and if exposed they would cause a great deal embarrassment. It is at these moments we become non-transparent, thinking we have covered up our deficiencies and maintained our integrity.
But as hard as we try to remain transparent while covering up a deficiency or sin in our lives, eventually it becomes known if not dealt with honestly. We may be able to cover up our sin for a time before others, but we can never cover up anything from God who knows and sees all. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” (nlt)
God is aware of our innermost thoughts and desires; we cannot hide them from God. We are capable of covering up our sin before others and even to ourselves as we refer to them as hidden sins and no big deal. But the Word of God has a way of reminding us that it is a big deal “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Heb.4:12 nlt) If we are serious about eradicating our hidden sins, we need to be immersed in the God’s Word allowing Him through His Word to expose our innermost thoughts and desires and be transparent before Him.
Merriam Webster defines ‘mindset’ as, ‘a mental attitude or inclination, a fixed state of mind.’ Another way you can state it, in simple terms, would be it is what you think about all the time. What you think about controls your actions. It’s what you are inclined to do because it is always on your mind. It is your fixed state of mind. So, what is your mindset?
Paul, the apostle, warns us, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things…..So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.” (Ro.8:5a, 6a nlt) The things we think about, if we let them hang around, will eventually turn into action. Enough action in our sinful nature will lead to death as Paul points out. But Paul also gives us the flipside in stating, “but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit…….letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Ro.8:5b,6b nlt)
While it is true all Christians are a new creation in Christ through the presence of the Holy Spirit, (2Cor.5:17) we still have that old sin nature from our first parents, Adam and Eve. We are to allow the Holy Spirit to control us, and we are to walk by the Spirit. Paul refers to this several times in his New Testament writings. (Gal.5:16, 5:25; Col.2:6; Ro.8:14.) If we consistently walk in the Spirit our thoughts will be towards God and His righteousness and the ways in which to please Him. Our mindset will be in sync with our creator leading us into an abundant life and peace. So, what is your mindset? It may be time to change direction.
Over the past several days champions were crowned in various sports in the United States. Two had the opportunity to share that honor on the same day. The Oklahoma Thunder won the NBA championship over the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game series. The Baseball College World Series had their 2025 champion, LSU, celebrating their victory over Coastal Carolina in a series sweep. Five days earlier the Florida Panthers won their second Stanley Cup in a row beating the Edmonton Oilers in six games. And if you’re a diehard football fan the UFL spring league held its championship game two weeks ago with the D.C. Defenders outscoring the Michigan Panthers 58-34. All these teams will cherish and savor the victory for years to come. They will remember the struggles, the teamwork, the individual achievements, but most of all they will know the championship is theirs through their victory.
The apostle Paul tells us about another victory we can all have with no effort of our own. In fact, this victory requires no work at all. No heavy lifting, training, running sprints, or studying a playbook is involved. Paul states we can have victory over our sin and death through Jesus Christ. None of us can atone for our sin. There is nothing we can do to eradicate our guilt no matter how many good deeds we do, how many stars we get, or how much money we give to charities or the church. It is only through what Christ has done for us on the cross of Calvary by paying the penalty for sins through His death. We are guaranteed eternal life through His resurrection from the grave three days later. Victory! Yes, but it is only by faith in Jesus Christ, confessing and repenting of our sins, and trusting Him for salvation that He gives us the victory.
Don’t feel you need to play a part in achieving this victory. There’s nothing you can do; Jesus did it all. Consider you’re a bench player who never plays for a minute all year, or you’re on the sidelines due to injury. You still got that championship ring. There was nothing you could do. Championships are nice, but victory over sin and death is much better. Make sure you get your ring.
In the Old Testament book of the Law Deuteronomy, Moses lays out the laws of landmark. “Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.” (Dt.19:14 niv) Boundary markers were set to establish and secure one’s property. Moving the property line to enrich yourself was a serious crime. This law became necessary, especially to widows who had no defense in their times of distress. King Solomon referred to this ancient law in our verse for today. The NLT translation gives us clearer understanding, “Don’t cheat your neighbor by moving the ancient boundary markers set up by previous generations.” (Pr.22:28 nlt) The boundary marker was set in stone as we may say today. It was not to be moved.
God has ancient boundary markers for each of us which we are not to move. The boundaries He places around our lives are set in stone. What’s on the other side is not for us. This isn’t stealing property from your neighbor and seizing his BBQ gas grill, it’s robbing your own soul from living in righteousness by engaging with what is in the forbidden zone on the other side. God establishes boundaries in our lives to protect us and help us to grow in the fruit of the spirit.
Temptation to move the boundary stone comes to all of us at one time or another. The grass is not always greener on the other side; most likely it is dried up and barren as the prodigal son found out. (Lk.15) God put those boundaries in place to warn and protect us from harm physically and spiritually. God’s boundary stone is not to be moved. It’s there for our benefit.
The prophet Ezekiel prophesied to the exiled Jews who were in Babylon before the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel himself was taken captive in the second invasion by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 B.C… His message was ‘repentance is the way to life.’ Ezekiel prophesied the future destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem was coming. Those who were already in exile would not be going back anytime soon and others would be joining them after the third invasion of Judah. So, Ezekiel’s message was to repent.
Ezekiel relayed the Lord’s message of judgment upon them for their past sins, urging them to repent as they are already in exile. “Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ez.18:31 nasb) The Lord God did not want any individual of the house of Israel to die in their sins, but to repent and get a new heart.
The Lord God does not want anyone alive today to die in their sins, that includes you and me. The Lord says He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. Here, He is referring to those dying without receiving forgiveness for their sins. Therefore, God is telling us as He told Israel, ‘Repent and live.’ To repent and live means to give up your old way of living which may lead to an early physical death, and more importantly to save you from eternal punishment to eternal life. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2Pt.3:9 nasb) Yes, repentance is the way to life!
“As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, ‘Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.’” Mark 8:15 NLT
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Continuing with our series in the book of Mark on Sunday’s Biblical Insights this week we see Jesus on the move again. After miraculously feeding another large crowd of almost 16,000 with seven loaves of bread and a few fish, Jesus leaves the Decapolis region and heading back across the sea to the region of Dalmanutha.
Once again people are waiting for His arrival. This time it is the Pharisees who have not given up questioning Jesus but continue to harass Him demanding proof of His deity. They were demanding Jesus show them a sign to prove the divine authority He is claiming. The Pharisees have seen His previous miracles but wanted more. They were looking for a convincing celestial event to prove His power over the heavens and the earth. When Jesus heard this, he sighed deeply. Last week we noted Jesus’ compassion by sighing at the healing of the deaf and mute man, this week He sighs in grief for their refusal to believe. Jesus refused to give in to their demand knowing that the Pharisees really didn’t believe He could perform such a miracle. Their intent was to keep on trying to discredit Jesus and deflate His popularity.
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Jesus left Dalmanutha after this confrontation with the Pharisees. “So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake” (Mk,8:13 nlt) Jesus went back to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee arriving at the fishing town of Bethsaida on the northern shore, the home to Peter, Philip, and Andrew. During the trip Jesus’ disciples were taught an important truth, although they were unaware of it at the time. ‘Beware of Persuasive Influences of Sin.’ “As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, ‘Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.’” (Mk.8:15 nlt) The disciples’ minds instantly went to the fact they forgot to take food along for the trip. Whether they thought Jesus was referring to this or something else is not clear, but “At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread.” (Mk.8:16 nlt) How often we’re quick to jump to conclusions thinking we know why something is occurring. It’s usually not the case, just our minds feeding our self-serving attitude. These were the disciples on the boat that day.
What Jesus told His disciples went right over their heads. Jesus was referring to the yeast as a symbol of evil or corruption. A tiny amount of yeast can ferment a large amount of dough. A little yeast of sin in our lives will ferment into a large lump of uncontrollable sin leading to disaster. The Pharisees had the yeast of hypocrisy. This was seen by their earlier demand for Jesus to perform a sign when they didn’t believe He could perform one. Herod’s yeast was secularism and worldliness. A little influence in these areas is all that is needed to quickly rise the temptation of sin. This is what Jesus was telling His disciples back then and to us in our day. Beware of persuasive influences of sin.
Jesus knew the disciples didn’t get it and knew what they were arguing about. They were missing a vital spiritual point because they were focusing on their material needs, namely food. “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in?……Don’t you remember anything at all?” (Mk.17-18 nlt) The disciples witnessed Jesus feeding 4,000 men plus women and children just days before and saw Him feed 5,000 men plus women and children before that, and yet they’re worried about what they will eat when the miracle worker is right in front of them. So concerned they were that they missed His important teaching about the influences of sin.
Christians today have the same problem of deciphering what to beware of in all the influences in our lives. Herod’s yeast of secularism is likely the most influential to beware of. Living in the world and not being part of the world is a daily struggle. It’s easy to succumb, that is why Jesus gave us the warning, beware. The Pharisees yeast of hypocrisy should not be dismissed as if it can’t be applied to us. It can. It’s too easy to say one thing and do another. We live in a world where it is very easy to be persuaded by all that is around us. We should not be naive in thinking we can always discern if the persuasive influences in our lives are of a sin nature or not without the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells to beware, and He has sent His Holy Spirit to help us beware and live a life free from giving in to the persuasive influences of sin.
“But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation.” Ezra 3:12 NLT
The older some people get, the more they long for the ‘good old days.’ Of course, not everyone does this, but most of us like to at least reminisce about a time in the past. Our minds may recall the past perfectly, especially those with significant meaning attached to them. The sights and sounds of those events are etched forever in our mind. Trying to recreate those special moments sometimes work out, but other times they fail to capture what it once was. These sad occurrences often happen when we go back to a place that has changed due to our carelessness, mismanagement, or our outright sin.
The older folks from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin experienced a super letdown when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. After seventy years of captivity, the Jewish people were allowed to return to their homeland with the purpose of rebuilding the Temple that was destroyed and to reestablish worship with God. The original Temple that was destroyed was Solomon’s Temple with its magnificent splendor in structure, size, and beautiful ornamental arrangements. It was a sight to behold. The destruction of the Temple along with the people being taken captive were due to their continued disobedience to the Lord God. But God in His faithfulness promised they would return after seventy years to the place from where they were taken. They would rebuild and worship God once again in Jerusalem, but it would no longer be the same.
You may be at a place in your life where God has restored you after a period of bad times. You may be back in fellowship with Him, but you keep going back to those ‘good old days.’ Perhaps it’s regret or guilt you just can’t seem to shake, or the bitterness you refuse to let go of. Whatever the case is, know that God is making all things new. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Is.43:19 nlt) The Lord forgives us of our past sins and will restore us as we confess and repent. He puts us a new path looking forward to His future blessings. Rejoice God hasn’t forgotten you and see His leading to something new as you wipe away the tears from your eyes.
Word for the Soul 